Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Liar, says Iggy of Speaker De Venecia’s son By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
JOEY De Venecia is a “liar”, said Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, Jr. (5th district of Negros Occidental) in a phone interview Tuesday night, in defense of his elder brother, First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo.
Joey, son of House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., testified Tuesday before the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon committee that it was the First Gentleman who is the powerful man and was considered part of the “Big Gang” behind the controversial national broadband network deal.
The House Speaker’s son made the revelation during the Senate inquiry into the alleged anomalous transaction, calling it an “onerous deal and grossly disadvantageous to the country” which 100 percent overpriced.
Top violator of the law
Iggy, however, said, “I am supposed to believe in him (Joey De Venecia) but after I knew that he’s also a top violator the law in the country, I then lost my trust in him.”
This, as Iggy explained that under the Constitution, no one is allowed from the first to fourth degree of consanguinity of the top four officials in the country - the president, vice president, Senate President and House Speaker, to enter into any contract especially business contract with the government.
Iggy said they will file a case against Joey and will also conduct probe against the Speaker’s son on the allegation that he also received kick back money from ZTE.
Bad statement
Representative Monico Puentevella of the lone district of Bacolod also said, “Joey’s statement Tuesday will divide the House of Speaker De Venecia and President Arroyo.
Puentevella also said it was a very, very bad statement especially for the administration whether Joey is telling the truth or not and also bad for the House leadership of his father.
“Since the issue at hand is graft and corruption, this will also have repercussions on the economy. However, let’s all pray that this ‘crisis’ will pass away soon,” the solon stressed.
Iggy said, “If there is anyone who should be punished, it is the younger de Venecia who submitted a project proposal for the NBN deal despite the stature of his father.
He can be put to jail for that, Iggy said. Iggy was also disappointed that the House Speaker allowed his son to speak openly even at the expense of Mr. Arroyo’s name.
He said it is up to the Speaker to decide what must be done after his son’s revelations, stressing that it is a family matter that he should attend to.
For national interest
The House Speaker, however, stood by his son’s defense, stressing that the expose Joey is in the name of national interest.
De Venecia Jr. said his son and the First Gentleman are obliged to be transparent on the issue to shed light on the controversy.
“In this issue, both my son and the First Gentleman must be transparent to our people. The people have the right to know the truth, nothing less. Only the truth and nothing but the truth,” said the Speaker added.
He added: “It’s now for the Senate to determine if Jose de Venecia III was straightforward in telling the unvarnished truth. My son has his own moral principles to guide him. He is his own man, strong enough to stand up for them.” (With reports from Sunnex)
